Seeking Alpha’s Jonathan Liss recently spoke with Gary to find out how he planned to use ETFs – including alternative ETF strategies not frequently found in more typical investor portfolios – to position clients in 2013.
Jonathan Liss (JL): How would you describe your investing style/philosophy?
Gary Gordon (GG): Information processing is the best way to describe [...] [...more]

It wasn’t that long ago that gold bears were sticking a fork in the yellow metal. And they had¬†several reasons. The $300+ per ounce price drop was not¬†attracting¬†tons of bargain-hunters. What’s more, the SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) had fallen below its 200-day trendline for the first time since 2009.
That said,¬†precious metals have reclaimed their luster [...] [...more]

For better or for worse, there are a wide range of perspectives on the investments that are likely to do well over the next 6 months. And while nobody doubts the severity of the Eurozone crisis, each seems to see different opportunities in light of costly euro-baggage.
One portfolio manager believes that U.S. equities will remain [...] [...more]

At the time of this commentary, the S&P 500 is down -1% in 2011. The SPDR S&P 500 Trust (SPY), however, reinvests its dividends. It follows that SPY is actually up a “skohsh” with a 0.3% gain.
Is it possible that you could have been more successful? Many would say, “Sure… as long as you know [...] [...more]

Over the weekend,¬†Germany and France presented a unified front on recapitalizing European banks. Not surprisingly, risk assets clear across the globe rocketed higher on Monday, 10/10/11.
In fact,¬†most believe that¬†a TARP-like response for protecting “too big to fail” financial institutions is the¬†best way to¬†avoid¬†a rash of sovereign debt defaults, a worldwide recession as well as¬†depreciating risk [...] [...more]

The iShares MSCI Emerging Market Fund (EEM) and the Vanguard Emerging Market Fund (VWO) have both plummeted roughly -30% since late April-early May highs. What’s more, these popular exchange-traded trackers of the MSCI Emerging Market Index have both trailed advanced-nation benchmarks (e.g.,¬†S&P 500) for 4 consecutive quarters.
When is the last time that emergers have underachieved [...] [...more]

As many times as gold vigilantes try to short the yellow metal — as often as gold bugs¬†try to take profits¬†near $1900 oz — new buyers still keep coming back. For example, after a 3%+ smackdown on 9/7/11, the SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) managed to rally back 2% on¬†Thursday, 9/8/11.
Yet, even as precious metal funds [...] [...more]

At one time, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany enjoyed remarkable popularity. Today, her political career may depend¬†on whether or not she¬†persuades enough of her countrymen to¬†finance the ongoing bailout of¬†member¬†countries in the euro-zone.
Regardless, iShares MSCI Germany (EWG) has been punished mercilessly.¬†This ETF¬†held the¬†insidious title of worst country ETF¬†of August with¬†single-month losses of nearly 20%.
Perhaps ironically,¬†there [...] [...more]